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Sink rarely comes up first when home owners think about kitchen renovation, but it is nonetheless a vital part of any kitchen upgrade. When you are choosing and looking through the multitude of options available in the market in terms of cabinetry and appliances, the sink might get pushed only as an afterthought. But the truth of the matter is that if you want to make sure that your kitchen looks its best, you should not overlook or ignore the one thing in your kitchen that is most used.

The primary factors that should be considered when choosing a sink include sink material, shape and color, as well as the mounting top.

Factor 1: The Material

There are a wide variety of sinks available today and the most common of them are stainless steel, acrylic, porcelain and solid-surface materials. Each of these materials has its own benefits:

Stainless Steel sinks: This type of sink is very easy to install and clean and comes in a wide range of prices. However, they can scratch easily (especially the thin ones), tend to be a little noisy as it intensifies the sound of running water, and can easily dent. If you decide on choosing stainless steel sinks, you should consider the gauge and the thickness; generally, thicker materials are quieter and sturdier.

Porcelain: These sinks have a base made of cast iron (or other similar materials) but have a porcelain coating. They can be easily buffed to shine, but they tend to chip if heavy materials are dropped on to it in the wrong way. It is also prone to stains which might be hard to remove if you don’t maintain regularly.

Solid surface materials: These sinks have been popular nowadays and are available in many colors that you can coordinate with your countertops. There are also granite and high-end stone mimicked finishes so that they can create an elegant look. These materials are scratch-proof and stain- and heat-resistant. They can be relatively pricey, though.

Acrylic: These sinks are also common, like porcelain. It is stain-resistant and there are models which have germ-fighting properties. They do not tend to resist heat, though, as well as other materials.

Factor Number 2: The Shape

Sink come in single-bowl, double-bowl and triple-bowl designs. Dual bowls would be best or a large single one if you wash lots of baking pans so that there will be enough room to lay them down to soak. Three-bowl designs usually include a smaller sink which is mainly for rinsing or for disposal of garbage. The most important thing is that you assess your kitchen needs and choose the shape and size that will be best.

Factor Number 3: Mounting Style

Sinks can be top-mounted (attached above your countertop), under-mounted (attached below), or flush-mounted (leveled with the countertop).

Top-mounted sinks are usually easiest to install but it might be difficult to clean up crumbs and spills. Under-mounted ones are more time-consuming and difficult to install, but they usually look more integrated (especially if both sink and counter are of the same material), and easier to clean up. Flush-mounted sinks also look integrated but can be hard to keep clean due to the grooves.

Always remember that despite all these considerations, what you must choose would be a sink design that would look good and at the same time make your kitchen and your washing the most convenient as can be.